Tiwari, S., /Journal of Natural Products, Vol.

1(2008):27-35

Journal of Natural Products

Volume 1 (2008)
www.JournalofNaturalProducts.com
Review

Plants: A Rich Source of Herbal Medicine

Sudhanshu Tiwari*
*Email: sudhansh4@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

Nearly 80% of the global population still depends upon the herbal drugs for their
health care. Plant based therapy are marked due to its low cast, easy availability, based on
generation to generation knowledge. At present time, plant based industries are rising at
international level but unfortunately due to uncontrolled growth of population and
unplanned, excess use/misuses of plant species make them endangered. So with
increasing use of medicinal plants and raising their demand in pharmaceutical, cosmetic
and other industries we should try to make a world wide deep, healthy ethno-botanical
knowledge and create attention for cultivation of useful medicinal plants at larger scale
and their sustainable, better utilization.

Keywords: Plants; Plant products; Herbal drug; Ethno-botanical knowledge; Sustainable

utilization.

INTRODUCTION

From ancient time, plants are rich source of effective and safe medicines. Herbal
medicines have been main source of primary healthcare in many nations. About 80% of
world populations are still dependent on traditional medicines.
Herbal medicines are “finished, labeled medicinal products that contain as active
ingredients, aerial or under ground part of plants or other plant materials, or combination
thereof, whether in the crude state or as plant preparations. Plant materials include juices,
gums, fatty oils, essential oils and any other substances of this nature. Herbal medicines
may contain excipients in addition to the active ingredients. Medicines containing plant
materials combined with chemically defined active substances, including chemically
defined isolated constituents of plants are not considered to be herbal medicines” (WHO,
1998).

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Even at present time very limited knowledge about the ingredients in herbal
medicines and their effects in humans, the lack of stringent quality control and the
heterogeneous nature of herbal medicines all necessitate the continuous monitoring of the
safety of these plant products (Chan, 1997).
While ensuring quality of phyto-pharmaceuticals some important considerations
are (Seth and Kakkar, 2003):
• Raw materials are not homogenous.
• The amount and quality of active ingredients can vary due to different cultivation
and harvesting methods.
• Herbal drugs are effective due to their complex combinations.
• The method of manufacturing decisively influences the composition of herbal
drug.
Indian Vedas describe the widespread use of herbal products and aqueous extract
of different plant parts for curing different disease. Maximum 30% of root part of
medicinal plant is used in different practices in compression to other plant parts (Ved, et
al., 1998).

Leaves
6%
Whole Plant
Roots
16%
30%
w ood
3%

Rhizomes
4%
Seeds
4%
Bark
Fruits 14%
7% Stem
Flow ers 6%
10%
% of Plant parts used of medicinal plants

General classifications of medicinal plants on the basis of their uses are:

1. Used by traditional ones and herbal patrician’s.
2. Used in formulation of different Ayurvedic products.
3. Used for making herbal products.
4. Used in synthetic medicinal formulation.
5. Used for extraction of their active moiety.
6. Used in other than pharmaceutical industries.

With development of pharmaceutical industries much more attainance has been

created on plant products. They have attaince to isolated active constituents from

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different plant parts and use them directly as drug or design them as pharmacologically
active compounds with or without addition of synthetic ones.
In India traditional communities like tribal and rural populations are frequently
using the crude extracts of local plants for medicinal and other purposes. Crude extracts
and medicines manufactured on the principles of natural compounds even by
pharmaceuticals companies, may lead to large-scale exposure of humans to natural
products.
A large no. of plants and plant products are using from anti-biotic to anti-
infective and from anti-cancer to anti-aging. Several plants with their families and their
specific medicinal properties ((Loi, et al., 2005) are listed in table-1.

Table-1: Some common medicinal plants and main therapeutic uses of their
different plant parts.
Plant Family Plants Plant Main therapeutic use/aliments
parts treated
used
Anacardiaceae Pistacia lentiscus L. Fruit Rheumatism
Apocynaceae Vinca sardoa Leaf Sedates nausea
Araliaceae Hedera helix L. Leaf Rheumatism, anti-inflammatory,
burns
Betulaceae Alnus glutinosa L. Bark Anti-inflammatory
Boraginaceae Borago officinalis L. Leaf Stomach pain, intestinal
regularization, diuretic,
hypotensive
Cerinthe major L. Leaf, Eye inflammation
flower
Cynoglossum creticum Mill. Root Emollient, hydrated burns
Cactaceae Opuntia ficus-indica L. Clado Skin emollient
phyll
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera implexa Aiton Leaf Diuretic
Chenopodiaceae Beta vulgaris L. Leaf Lenitive, gentle laxative,
reconstituent
Cistaceae Cistus spp. Leaf Contusions, analgesic
Compositae Anthemis arvensis L. Whole Anti-inflammatory, emetic,
plant sedative
Artemisia arborescens L. Flower Digestive, stimulant, expectorant
Calendula arvensis L. Flower, Antispasmodic, burns, Diuretic,
leaf disinfectant, vulnerary
Cichorium intybus L. Leaf, Blood purification,
root arterioscelerosis, anti-arthritis,
anti-spasmodic, digestive,
Hypotensive, aperitif, laxative
Helychrysum microphyllum Leaf, Expectorant
Willd. flower

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Table-1: Continued
Plant Family Plants Plant Main therapeutic use/aliments
parts treated
used
Convolvulaceae Convolvulus althaeoides Whole Fat digestion
L. plant
Crassulaceae Umbilicus rupestris Leaf Vulnerary
Cruciferae Capsella bursapastoris Leaf Skin emollient, renal calculus
L.
Cucurbitaceae Ecballium elaterium A. Root Neuralgia, laxative
Diascoreaceae Tamus communis L. Fruit Rheumatism
Ericaeae Arbutus unedo L. Root, Antipyretic, arteriosclerosis,
fruit intestinal astringent
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia spp. Latex Antiverrucose
Ricinus communis L. Seed Laxative
Gentianaceae Gentiana lutea L. Root Digestive, aperitif, fever,
anorexia
Graminaceae Agropyron junceum L. Aerial Diuretic, urinary system, anti-
parts inflammatory
Arundo donax L. Dissepi Hemostatic, vulnerary
ments
Triticum spp. Fruit Emollient erythema, headache
Guttiferae Hypericum perforatum L. Leaf Vulnerary, burns
Labiatae Lavandula stoechas L. Leaf Asthma, headache, palpitation
Melissa officinalis L. Leaf Digestive, lenitive, bad breath
Mentha rotundifolia L. Aerial Digestive, lenitive
parts
Mentha spp. Leaf Anti-inflammatory, sedative,
helmithiasis
Ocimum basilicum L. Leaf Anti-inflammatory
Origanum majorana L. Leaf Neuralgia, sedative, stomach pain
Rosmarinus offcinalis L. Leaf Inappetence, digestive, diuretic,
sedative, headache, pruitus
Savia officinalis L. Leaf Stomatic, cooling of oral cavity,
digestive, vulnerary
Thymus capitatus L. Whole Digestive, depurative, balsamic,
plant neuralgia, anticatarrhal
Lauraceae Laurus nobilis L. Leaf Anti-inflammatory, digestive
Leguminosae Pisum elatius Bieb Fruit Nutraceutical properties
Liliaceae Allium cepa L. Bulb Renal calculus, antispasmodic
Allium nigrum L. Bulb Helminthiasis
Allium roseum L. Bulb Helminthiasis

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Table-1: Continued

Plant Family Plants Plant Main therapeutic use/aliments

parts treated
used
Liliaceae Allium sativum L. Bulb, Hypotensive, diuretic, stomach
(continue) leaf pain, antibacterial,
antiinflammatory
Asparagus acutifolius L. shoot Diuretic, gout
Asphodelus microcarpus Flower Emollient, lenitive, lung diseases
Ruscus aculeatus L. Rhizome, Gout, hemorrhoids, anti-verrucose
leaf
Smilax aspera L. Root Asthma
Linum usitatissimum L. Seed Gout, anti-inflammatory,
laxative, gentle laxative,
erythema
Malvaceae Malva sylvestris L. Whole Expectorant, anti-inflammatory,
plant, laxative, emollient, eye
leaf inflammation, pressure regulation
Moraceae Ficus carica L. Leaf Antiverrucose, cough sedative,
anti-inflammatory
Myrtaceae Eucalyptus globules Leaf Anti-catarrhal,expectorant
Labill.
Myrtus communis L. Leaf, Vulnerary, cough, sedative,
fruit digestive
Oleaceae Olea europea L. Leaf, Hypotensive, baldess, emollient,
fruit erythema, laxative, anti-
inflammatory, sore throat, otitis
Papveraceae Papaver rhoeas L. Leaf, Sedative, analgesic, gout
flower
Polygonaceae Rumex obtusifolius L. Leaf Hypotensive, diuretic
Polypodiaceae Adiantus capillus veneris Leaf Diuretic, sedative, emollient
L.
Polypodium vulgare L. Rhizome Cough sedative
Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis L. Whole Bronchial asthma, sedative,
plant stimulant
Cyclamen repandum Tuber Abortifacient
Ramnaceae Zizyphus sativa Fruit Sedative
Rosaceae Crataegus monogyna Flower Diuretic, cardiac sedative
Cydonya oblonga Fruit Sedative
Pirus spp. Fruit Digestive, heartburn
Prunus avium L. Pedicel Laxative, depurative,
nephrolithiasis

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Table-1: Continued

Plant Family Plants Plant Main therapeutic use/aliments

parts treated
used
Rosaceae Prunus spinosa L. Leaf, Diuretic, laxative
(continue) fruit
Rosa canina L. Fruit Diarrhoea, diuretic, reconstituent
Rubus fruticosus L. Leaf Diarrhoea, dysentery
Rutaceae Citrus limon L. Fruit Disinfectant, hypotensive,
headache
Scrophulariaceae Scrophularia trifoliate L. Leaf, Diuretic, vulnerary
rhizome
Umbelliferae Apium graveolens L. Seed Anti-inflammatory, aperitif
Daucus carota L. Seed Intestinal analgesic
Ferula communis L. Leaf Analgesic, cardio-kinetic
nervous stimulant
Foeniculum vulgare Fruit, Digestive, galactogen,
seed, leaf carminative, sedates nausea
Petroselinum sativum Leaf Skin emollient, diuretic stomach
pain
Urticaceae Cotyledon umbilicus Leaf Antisepatic, antibacterial
veneris L.
Parietaria diffusa Whole Cough sedative, headache
plant
Urtica atrovirens Leaf Baldness, gastritis
Urtica dioica L. Leaf Baldness, dandruff
Verbenaceae Verbena officinalis L. Whole Inappetence, hepatic diseases,
plant sedative, anti-pyretic,
cholagogue
Vitaceae Vitis vinifera L. Fruit Cough sedative

India has been identified as one of the top twelve mega bio-diversity center of the
world. This is because India has a vast area with wide variation in climate, soil, altitude
and latitude. India with its biggest repository of medicinal plants in the world may
maintain an important position in the production of raw materials either directly for crude
drugs or as the bioactive compounds in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
etc.

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In India nearly 15000 plant species are used as a source of medicine. Distribution
of different plant species in India (singh, et al., 2003) are listed in table-2.

Table-2: Availability of medicinal plants in different bio-geographical zones of India.

Bio-geographical zones No. of Occurrence of some important medicinal plants

known
medicinal
plants
1. Trans Himalayan zone
2. Himalayan zone
(i) North West Himalaya
(ii) Western Himalaya
(iii) Central Himalaya
(iv) Eastern Himalaya
3. Desert zones
Kutch and Thar
4. Semi-arid zone
5. Western Ghats
(i) Western Ghats
mountains
(ii) Malabar coasts
6. Deccan Peninsula
(i) Deccan Plateau south
(ii) Central Plateau
(iii) Eastern Plateau
(iv) Chhota Nagpur
(v) central Highlands
7.Gangetic Plains
(i) Upper Gangetic Plains
(ii) Lower Gangetic Plains
8. North East India
(i) Brahmaputra valley
(ii) Assam hills
9. Islands
(i) Andaman islands
(ii) Nicobar islands
(iii) Lakshdeep islands
10. Coasts
(i) West coasts
(ii) East coasts
700 Ephedra gerardiana, Hippophae rhamnoides, Arnebia
euchroma.
1,700 Aconitum spp., Berberis spp., Ferula jaeschkeana,
Saussurea costus, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Picrorhiza
kurroa, Podophyllum hexandrum, Rheum australe,
Swertia chirayita, Taxus wallichiana, Gentiana kurroo,
Inula racemosa.
1,200 Nardostachys grandiflora, taxus wallichiana, coptis
teeta, panax pseudo-ginseng, Swertia chirayita, Rheum
australe,picrorhiza kurroa, podophyllum hexandrum,
gaultheria fragantissima, entada pursaetha.
500 Convolvulus microphyllus, Tecomella undulata,
Citrullus colocynthis, Cressa cretica.
1,000 Commiphora wightii, Alhagi pseudalhagi, Salvadora
spp.
2,000 Myristica malabarica, Coscinium fenestratum, Garcinia
indica, Vateria indica, Utleria salicifolia,
3,000 Pterocarpus santalinus, Mesua ferrea, Decalepis
hamiltonii, Aristolochia spp., Terminalia paliida.
1,000 Holarrhena pubscens, Mallotus phillipinensis, Pluchea
lanceolata, Peganum harmala, Chlorophytum spp.,
Rauvolfia serpentine, Saraca asoca
2,000 Aquilaria malaccensis, Smilax glabra, Abroma augusta,
Hydnocarpus kurzii.
1,000 Calophyllum inophyllum, Adenanthera pavonina,
Barringtonia asiatica, Aisandra butyracea.
500 Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifoloius, Avicennia
marina, Sonneratia caseolaris.

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The valuable medicinal properties of different plants are due to presence of

several constituents i.e. saponines, tannins, alkaloids, alkenyl phenols, glycoalkaloids,
flavonoids, sesquiterpenes lactones, terpenoids and phorbol esters (tiwari and Singh,
2004). Among them some are act as synergistic and enhance the bioactivity of other
compounds.
Artemisinin producted by Artemisia annua plant is very effective against
Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax and also drug resist ant parasite. The main active
constituents of Artemisia annua are sesquiterpenoid lactone endoperonides named
artemisinin and artemisinic acid.
Reserpine isolated from raw plant extract of Rauvolfia serpentine is used as
tranquilizer and in control of high blood pressure. From 2000 years the powdered root of
Rauvolfia serpentine has been used in treatment of mental illness in India.
Although synthetic drugs are often used in treatment of certain disease but a
remarkable interest and confidence on plant medicine was found.
Expert consumers of plant medicines have vast botanical knowledge. And this
knowledge is necessary because only a expert can knew the active ingredients, part of
plant used in treatment, and they also know right time and method for collecting right
amount of plant parts as drug during the time in which the plant materials have bioactive
constituents and they also knew right method for drug preparation and their
administration.

CONCLUSION

I strongly feel that use of these plants and their plant products in medicinal
purposes are most convenient due to their:
(i) Easy availability; (ii) Easy biodegradability; (iii) Easy to handle; (iv) Low cost;
(v) Safe for mankind and environment both; (vi) Greater acceptance amongst the users;
(vii) minimum side effect
Most of the studies have been done in the area of biologically active plant
compounds but very little literature is available on the mode of action and their effect of
non- target organisms. Obviously, these substances cannot be put to commercial use
without a study of this aspect as well.
Thus we can concluded that before commercial use of these plant products their
strict scientific tests, besides clinical ones on different vital systems is necessary because
these natural products may have some few harmful ingredients in them as secondary
metabolites, which may have perilous side effects including mutagenic potentials. It is
therefore, desirable to evaluate the genotoxicity, physiological and biochemical effects, if
any, of materials of plant origin before considering for medicinal and any other purposes.

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Chan, T.Y., (1997): Monitoring the safety of herbal medicines. Drug Saf., 17:209-215.

Loi, M.C., Maxia, L., Maxia, A., (2005): Ethno-botanical comparison between the
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Plants, 11(3):67-84.

Singh, J., singh, A.K., Pravesh, R., (2003): Production and trade potential of some
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Ved, D.K., Mudappa A., Shankar, D., (1998): Regulating export of endangered medicinal
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Tiwar, S., Singh, A., (2004): Toxic and sub-lethal effects of oleadrin on biochemical
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World Health Organization, (1998): Quality control methods for medicinal plant
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